Animal carcass incinerator

ABSTRACT

An incinerator for burning waste products such as animal carcasses. The incinerator features a rotating combustion chamber with sloping side walls. The sloping side walls cause the waste product to concentrate in the center of the combustion chamber where the product is subjected to the flame of a burner. A hatch is provided in the center of the combustion chamber to allow for easy cleaning of the combustion chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of waste disposal. More specifically, the invention comprises an incinerator capable of incinerating biomass materials such as animal carcasses and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Incinerators in general, and organic waste incinerators in particular, have been in widespread use for decades. A typical example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,335 to Przewalski (1975). The Przewalski device uses a rotary type incinerator in which waste is fed through a chute into a rotating combustion chamber. The reader will observe that the waste material tends to burn in a linear fashion (from the burner end of the combustion chamber to the end of the combustion chamber opposite the burner).

While the rotation of the chamber helps move the waste material around during the combustion process, most of the waste material is gradually “pushed” away from the burner to collect on the end of the combustion chamber opposite the burner. This often results in the incomplete combustion of the waste material since waste products are moved away from the burner. It also can make it difficult to remove the combusted remains from the combustion chamber.

It would therefore be desirable to provide an incinerator which is more suitable for the complete combustion of a biomass waste material. It would also be desirable to provide an incinerator providing for easier removal of the products of the combustion process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an incinerator for burning waste products such as animal carcasses. The incinerator features a rotating combustion chamber with sloping side walls. The sloping side walls cause the waste product to concentrate in the center of the combustion chamber where the product is subjected to the flame of a burner. A hatch is provided in the center of the combustion chamber to allow for easy cleaning of the combustion chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view, illustrating the main combustion chamber.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view, illustrating the afterburner assembly.

FIG. 2 is a section view, showing the rotary joint between the main burner and the main combustion chamber.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with a cutaway, showing the position of the restrictor plate within the main combustion chamber.

FIG. 4 is a section elevation view, showing how the angles side walls concentrate the solid waste in the middle of the combustion chamber.

FIG. 5 is a section elevation view, showing how the hatch cover may be positioned for removing the contents of the combustion chamber.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

10 incinerator

12 combustion chamber

14 frame

16 rollers

18 motor

20 chain

22 rib

24 rib

26 hatch cover

28 burner receiver

30 burner

32 stop plate

34 spring

36 spring

38 fuel supply line

40 exhaust

42 exhaust receiver

44 flange

46 flange

48 spring

50 secondary combustion chamber

52 spring

54 chimney

56 burner mount plate

58 burner

60 fuel supply line

62 burner mount plate

64 nozzle

66 insulator

68 opening

70 restrictor plate

72 vents

74 rotary joint

76 flame

78 rotary joint

80 solid waste

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, incinerator 10, is illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Incinerator 10 includes combustion chamber 12 which is supported by rollers 16 on frame 14. Ribs 22 and 24 engage a groove on each roller and serve to keep combustion chamber 12 from shifting horizontally during operation. Motor 18 drives chain 20 which causes combustion chamber 12 to rotate on rollers 16. Teeth are provided on the exterior surface of combustion chamber 12 for engagement with chain 20. Combustion chamber 12 is generally positioned on frame 14 such that combustion chamber 12 has an axis of rotation along its central, horizontal axis.

Combustion chamber 12 has a sloping interior wall which slopes away from the axis of rotation from both ends of combustion chamber 12 to the middle. Thus, the interior has a varying cross-sectional area that is greatest at the middle of combustion chamber 12. This forces the waste product toward the middle during the combustion process. This allows the heat of burner 30 to be applied directly to the waste product as it is tumbled in combustion chamber, thereby rapidly burning the waste product.

Forcing the combusted remains of the waste product to the center of combustion chamber 12 also makes it easier to clean combustion chamber 12. To clean combustion chamber 12, hatch cover 26 is removed to uncover the hatch opening, and combustion chamber 12 is rotated so that the hatch opening faces the ground and the contents of the chamber spill out. The contents may be captured in a container and transported to another location for disposal.

Burner 30 is attached to one end of combustion chamber 12 within burner receiver 28. Burner 30 is typically of the gas (commonly propane or methane) or fuel oil type. It features an integral blower which pulls in ambient air through an intake. Fuel is provided to burner 30 through fuel supply line 38. Burner 30 is angled downward with respect to the axis of rotation of combustion chamber 12 such that the flame projected by burner 30 is projected at an off-axis orientation toward the bottom of combustion chamber 12. Because the waste material concentrates in the middle portion of combustion chamber 12 (due to the sloping side walls), burner 30 targets the flame on the waste product. This dramatically reduces the amount of time it takes to burn the product to completion compared to conventional rotating combustion chambers. As the product is tumbled, the waste product is exposed to the flame from various angles.

Burner 30 is mounted to stop plate 32 which is attached to frame 14 by several springs including springs 34 and 36. As such, combustion chamber 12 rotates independently of burner 30. Springs 34 and 36 absorb vibrations transmitted to stop plate 32 when combustion chamber 12 rotates.

Exhaust 40 is provided on the end of combustion chamber 12 opposite of burner 30. Exhaust 40 is nested in and rotates within exhaust receiver 42. Exhaust receiver 42 mates with rotary joint 78 on combustion chamber 12 and allows combustion chamber 12 to rotate along its center axis while exhaust receiver 42 remains stationary. Flange 44 of exhaust receiver 42 is attached to flange 46 of secondary combustion chamber 50. Secondary combustion chamber 50 is suspended from frame 14 by springs 48 and 52. Like springs 34 and 36, springs 48 and 52 absorb vibrations transmitted when combustion chamber 12 rotates. Secondary combustion chamber 50 has burner 58 mounted on one end by burner mount plate 56. Burner 58 receives fuel through fuel supply line 60. Burner 56 projects a flame into secondary combustion chamber 50 to further combust material escaping through exhaust 40. Chimney 54 vents combustion chamber 50 to the atmosphere.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the interface between burner 30 and burner receiver 28. Rotary joint 74 is provided on stop plate 32 and engages burner receiver 28 such that combustion chamber 12 can rotate along its central, horizontal axis, while stop plate 32 remains stationary. Nozzle 64 of burner 30 extends through burner mount plate 62, stop plate 32 and insulator 66, so that the end of burner 30 faces opening 68 of combustion chamber 12. Nozzle 64 is angled downward with respect to the axis of rotation of combustion chamber 12. Because combustion chamber 12 rotates independently of burner 30, nozzle 64 remains at the same orientation while combustion chamber 12 rotates. This configuration results in the flame being directed at the bottom of combustion chamber 12 where the waste products tend to accumulate. As shown in FIG. 2, flame 76 follows the angled side wall along the bottom of combustion chamber 12.

FIG. 3 shows the end of combustion chamber 12 near the exhaust. Restrictor plate 70 is attached to combustion chamber 12 and prevents an undesirable amount of waste product from passing through exhaust 40 into secondary combustion chamber 50. Vents 72 are provided in restrictor plate 70 and allow exhaust gases and small particulates from the combustion of the waste product to pass into secondary combustion chamber 50.

FIG. 4, shows how the shape of combustion chamber 12 causes solid waste 80 to accumulate in the middle portion of the combustion chamber. The reader will recall that flame 76 produced by the main burner is directed towards this region of the combustion chamber. As combustion chamber 12 rotates, solid waste 80 tumbles but remains concentrated in the middle of combustion chamber 12. As such, solid waste 80 is maintained in the optimal burning location. Because solid waste 80 tumbles when combustion chamber 12 rotates, the waste is exposed to the flame from many different angles. This allows the material to be combusted to completion in the shortest period of time.

FIG. 6 illustrates how the concentration of solid waste 80 in the middle of combustion chamber 12 further facilitates the removal of the solid waste when burning operations are completed. To empty combustion chamber 12, hatch cover 26 is simply moved to the open position and solid waste 80 pours out of the hatch opening. As mentioned previously, a container may be placed under the hatch opening for catching the contents of combustion chamber 12 as they spill out. The waste product may then be transported to an alternate location for disposal.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6. This embodiment is much the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, except that secondary combustion chamber 50 has been placed on top of the frame supporting combustion chamber 12. Like the previous embodiment, combustion chamber 12 rotated about its central, horizontal axis. Fine waste particulates pass through a restrictor plate and are combusted in secondary combustion chamber 50, which remains stationary. In this configuration, the waste incinerator takes up less floor space.

Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given. 

1. An incinerator for burning a waste product comprising: a. a first combustion chamber having a first end, a second end, and a medial section therebetween, said first combustion chamber having an exterior, an interior, and a central axis extending through said interior from said first end to said second end; b. a burner opening in said first end of said combustion chamber, said burner opening passing through said first combustion chamber from said exterior to said interior; c. a first burner situated in said burner opening, said first burner configured to project a flame into said combustion chamber; d. an exhaust opening in said second end of said first combustion chamber; e. a hatch opening in said medial section for loading said waste product in said combustion chamber and removing remains of said waste product after said waste product is combusted in said first combustion chamber; f. a device configured to rotate said first combustion chamber about said central axis; and g. wherein said interior of said combustion chamber has a varying cross-sectional area along said central axis such that the cross-sectional area of said interior decreases from said medial section towards said first end and said second end.
 2. The incinerator of claim 1, said first burner angled with respect to said central axis so that said flame is projected at an off-axis orientation.
 3. The incinerator of claim 1, further comprising a hatch door covering said hatch opening.
 4. The incinerator of claim 1, further comprising a second combustion chamber, said second combustion chamber fluidly connected to said first combustion chamber through said exhaust of said first combustion chamber, said second combustion chamber having a. a second burner opening; b. a second burner situated in said second burner opening, said second burner configured to project a second flame into said second combustion chamber; and c. a second exhaust opening.
 5. The incinerator of claim 4, further comprising a frame adapted to support said first combustion chamber, said second combustion chamber suspended from said frame by a spring.
 6. The incinerator of claim 4, wherein said first combustion chamber rotates independently of said first burner and said second combustion chamber.
 7. The incinerator of claim 1, further comprising a frame adapted to support said first combustion chamber, said frame having a first roller mating with said exterior of said first combustion chamber.
 8. The incinerator of claim 1, said first burner attached to said frame by a spring.
 9. The incinerator of claim 1, wherein said first combustion chamber rotates independently of said first burner.
 10. An incinerator for burning a waste product comprising: a. a first combustion chamber having a first end, a second end, and a medial portion therebetween, said first combustion chamber having an exterior, an interior, and a central axis extending through said interior from said first end to said second end; b. a burner opening in said first end of said combustion chamber, said burner opening passing through said first combustion chamber from said exterior to said interior; c. a first burner situated in said burner opening, said first burner configured to project a flame into said combustion chamber; d. an exhaust opening in said second end of said first combustion chamber; e. a hatch opening in said medial section for loading said waste product in said combustion chamber and removing remains of said waste product after said waste product is combusted in said first combustion chamber; f. a device configured to rotate said first combustion chamber about said central axis; and g. wherein said interior of said combustion chamber has a sloping interior wall, said sloping interior wall sloping away from said central axis from said first end to said medial portion as well as from said second end to said medial portion.
 11. The incinerator of claim 10, said first burner angled with respect to said central axis so that said flame is projected at an off-axis orientation.
 12. The incinerator of claim 10, further comprising a hatch door covering said hatch opening.
 13. The incinerator of claim 10, further comprising a second combustion chamber, said second combustion chamber fluidly connected to said first combustion chamber through said exhaust of said first combustion chamber, said second combustion chamber having a. a second burner opening; b. a second burner situated in said second burner opening, said second burner configured to project a second flame into said second combustion chamber; and c. a second exhaust opening.
 14. The incinerator of claim 13, further comprising a frame adapted to support said first combustion chamber, said second combustion chamber suspended from said frame by a spring.
 15. The incinerator of claim 13, wherein said first combustion chamber rotates independently of said first burner and said second combustion chamber.
 16. The incinerator of claim 10, further comprising a frame adapted to support said first combustion chamber, said frame having a first roller mating with said exterior of said first combustion chamber.
 17. The incinerator of claim 10, said first burner attached to said frame by. a spring.
 18. The incinerator of claim 10, wherein said first combustion chamber rotates independently of said first burner. 